Clerk warns small towns of state law shifting election cycle; Martinsville officials to seek guidance

Martinsville — County Clerk Clark Parker emailed the city about a change in state law that will alter municipal election cycles for towns under certain population thresholds, council members said at the Aug. 25 meeting. According to the information shared with the council, municipalities with a population under 3,500 will be required to switch their municipal elections to coincide with the presidential election, which will alter the timing of current terms. A council member explained that the change could turn a two‑year remaining term into a three‑year term for affected officeholders. Two council members — Ben Mahan and one other — said they plan to attend a Secretary of State information session in Indianapolis on Sept. 3 to get more details. “If your population is over 3,500, you have the option of what you want to do, stay on your own election cycle or extending to the presidential,” a council member said during the meeting. Council members did not take formal action at the Aug. 25 meeting but announced their intent to learn more from the Secretary of State’s sessions and report back to the council.